Acer pseudoplatanus; 'Sycamore'

 The sycamore tree is native to central and southern Europe. The sycamore is now grown across Great Britain and thought to have been introduced from Europe in the 15^th or 16^th century. It was introduced to Britain, and planted in parks and walkways where it was used to provide shade for pedestrians.

This tree will grow best in full or part shade it is an extremely robust species and will grow almost anywhere including city parks, and by the coast where trees usually grow smaller and tend not to do very well.It grows best in moist but well drained soil. Chalk, Clay, Sand or Loam suits the species best.

The tree grows up to 35m in height; this tree can grow very wide and almost appears round in shape.It produces bark that is grey and looks like silver amour which is made up of rectangular patches. When these patches peel off they expose bright orange patches which cause a patchwork effect on the trunk. The tree has dark green five-lobed leaves which turn a deep golden-yellow colour in autumn. 

The tree flowers in April after the leaves first appear in the spring. The tree produces seeds that ripen in autumn. These seeds spiral down from the branches very slowly to improve the chances that they will float away from the parent tree in the wind.

The seeds are known to most people as 'helicopters' because of the way that they fall to the ground and are shaped like wings.

The sycamore tree can live up to around 500 years old. This tree grows very quickly and if not controlled can cause problems to other species by causing too much shade and not allowing other plants and trees to thrive.
These trees produce a mucus-like slime when the leaves decompose on the ground which often cause slimy ,sticky and dangerous footpaths.
At the same time these trees provide a very good source of insect food (aphids) for birds such as house martens which helps encourage and maintain wildlife to urban areas.